Carbon Outlook

Carbon Outlook, a project incubated by cKinetics, primarily aims to foster requisite discussion on the ‘growth paradox’ as it impacts emerging economies at a policy and market level as also to identify, track and highlight market interventions thus catalyzing the mainstreaming of the low carbon emission initiatives.

Over the course of last decade, a global impetus has emerged on the need to manage the global carbon footprint and contain climate changes otherwise expected to adversely impact the earth’s habitat in the next 3 decades. While this wide-felt need has led to an initial framework for a global regime via the Kyoto Protocol, true global consensus has not matured  far enough, primarily due to the differing and at times opposing strategic imperatives of various countries. The root of the challenge lies in development goals and how those relate to both current growth and the future growth needs of different countries round the globe.

An emerging economy like India needs to grow at 8-10% a year to bring its bring 400+ million of its 1.1 billion population out of poverty. This means the development of infrastructure (energy, transportation, etc) as well as increased consumption: all of which mean additional carbon emissions at a growing rate. And it is this ‘growth paradox’ which shapes the challenge for global policy makers in carving a global carbon abatement regime - How can development and economic growth continue while at the same time transitioning towards more efficient carbon usage?

With an exclusive focus on emerging economies, Carbon Outlook is an independent information marketplace tracking actions related to the carbon economy as well as their impact. It proactively promotes a data driven approach to enable action by local, regional as well as global practitioners.

Carbon Outlook provides (a) in-depth business and policy analyses, (b) updates on the market participants and latest trends on carbon commerce, and (c) expert inputs on the GHG emission reduction and other carbon abatement as well as adaptation measures being undertaken in these regions.

India is the first region being focused on by Carbon Outlook.

Carbon Outlook is also putting together a working group to build the taxonomy for Carbon XBRL and also to build a linked-data repository of URIs being used for carbon-terminology. As data on carbon related activities increase, standardizing URIs and XBRL will make portability easier: allowing for easier data comparisons and in-depth analysis to enable carbon and forest professionals.